Musical Heart Beats

Problem Scenario

I am intrigued by heart rate and how it works.

Broad Question

What is the affect of music on humans?

Specific Question

Does music type affect heart rate?

Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that techno music will have the greatest affect on heart rate because it has the fastest beat.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable: Genre of Music

Dependent Variable: Percent of Heart Rate Change

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

Starting Heart Rate
Volume of Music
Headphones Used

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

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General Plan

It is hypothesized that techno music will have the greatest effect on heart rate. The subject will listen to a genre of music. Their greatest difference in heart rate will be recorded. The difference is the change from resting heart rate to heart rate while listening to music. After the subject has listened to one genre they will return to a resting heart rate before being allowed to continue on to the next genre. All tests will be done inside to ensure that weather does not have any effect on the results. This same format will be followed for all genres for each subject. Then all differences will be turned into percent differences and will be averaged together for each genre.

Potential Problems And Solutions

Problems could come with performing this experiment. The volume that the music is played at could get accidently changed. It needs to be the same for all test subjects in order for the experiment to be accurate. To solve this issue the volume setting will be recorded before the test is started. Before each trial the volume will be checked and if need be, adjusted.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Blow Ear drums from loud music

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Controlled, Manipulated Experiment

What is your experimental unit?

1 person

Number Of Trials:

10

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:

4

Number of Observations:

1 per genre

When data will be collected

By 2/25/13

Where will data be collected?:

At [[#|school]] or at home. Always indoors.

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
Poster Board	1	Staples	$5
[[#|Heart Rate Monitor]]	1	Home	Free
iPod and Headphones	1	Home	Free

Detailed Procedure

1. Place headphones on subject (use same headphones for each subject)
2. Write down resting heart rate of subject
3. Play rock music
4. Record greatest difference reached while listening to music
5. Let subject get back to their resting heart rate
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for techno, classical, and jazz music.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for all other subjects.
8. Calculate average percent difference for each genre.

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

Early January: Question Chosen
End of January: Hypothesis, Variables, and Hypothesis Graph Finished
2/25/13: Experiment Completed
3/1/13: Data Analysis Done
3/8/13: All write ups completed
3/15/13: Poster Completed
3/29: [[#|KMS]] Science Fair

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Data Table

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Data Analysis

All Raw Data

See Data Table Above

Graphs

Photos

Results

Listening to music caused heart rate to increase in all genres, but jazz. In techno heart rate increased 16.45%, in classical heart rate increased 4.875%, and rock increased 11.65%. Jazz was the only genre that caused heart rate to decrease. While listening to jazz, listeners experienced a drop of 2.525%. During the testing it was observed that the subject's heart rate tended to stay in a range of five BPM.

Conclusion

It was hypothesized that techno music will have the greatest affect on heart rate. The data proved the hypothesis right. At a 16.45% increase techno had the greatest affect on heart rate.

Discussion

Techno music has the greatest affect on heart rate. The beat was the main factor in this experiment. The genres with the faster beat, techno and rock, increased the heart rate more. Jazz has a slower beat therefore it decreased heart rate. Classical had a moderately fast beat so it only increased hart rate a little. According to a study done at the University of Oxford musicians or people with a musical background are affected by music more than others. This theory was proven true by my experiment. The subjects in my experiment with experience playing an instrument were affected more than the others. This experiment was successful, music does affect heart rate. The original plan was to have subjects listen to 30 seconds of each genre. That was too short of a time for the music to affect the heart rate. The procedure was modified to have the subjects listen to three minutes of each genre. This topic can be expeanded upon. Does volume of music affect heart rate would be one way. Another way would be to see if music affected physical performance. Lastly, one could test the relationship between music and blood pressure.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

This data can be used by anyone. If someone wants to lower their heart rate or blood pressure they can. With this data they can lower heart rate and blood pressure quicker. Jazz music was found to be the best for lowering heart rate. If someone wanted to increase their heart rate they now could by listening to techno music.

Background Research

Music can affect humans. One way is mood. The lyrics and tempo can make a person happy or sad. Music can also remind people of memories they've had. Humans usually connect key words to a memory and if a song mentions those words it can bring back the memory. If it’s a bad memory it can have a negative affect on a person’s mood and outlook.
In November of 2009 a study was done in Hong Kong that revealed more about the relationship between music and blood pressure. It showed that those who listened to 20 to 30 minutes of music every day had lower blood pressure and slower heart rate than those who didn't listen to music. A study done at the University of Oxford showed that rap music increased a person’s heart rate because of its faster beat.
Just being around music can affect your heart rate. Another study at the University of Oxford was done to see if being a musician affected your heart rate. It turns out that those with a musical background had a larger change in heart rate when listening to music than others who without a musical background. The scientists from this study believe that musicians can understand the complexity of the music. Therefore, they unconsciously adjust their heart beat to match the beat of the music.
Lowering blood pressure and heart rate are not the only things that listening to music can do. Minneapolis' Abbott Northwestern Hospital found that listening to music made people less concerned about medical conditions. More importantly, those who listened to music felt less pain. People can use music as a relaxation technique. During stress heart rate and blood pressure rise. With music people can lower heart rate and blood pressure.

References

Roth, Erica. "Relationship Between Music and Heart Rate." LIVESTRONG.COM. N.p., 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.

Abstract

Does music affect heart rate? It was hypothesized that techno music will have the greatest affect on heart rate because it has the fastest beat. The other genres tested were rock, classical, and jazz. For the experiment each subject wore a heart rate monitor. At the beginning of each genre the subject's heart rate was recorded. During the song the heart rate farthest from the starting heart rate was also recorded. That second heart rate could be lower or higher than the starting heart rate. The hypothesis was proven correct. Techno music has the greatest affect on heart rate, It was concluded that tempo or beat is what really affects heart rate. Techno, with the fastest beat caused the largest increase. Rock, with the second fastest beat caused the second largest increase. Classical, with the third fastest beat caused the third largest increase. Lastly, jazz, with the slowest beat actually caused a decrease in heart rate. Music does affect heart rate.